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017 - Releasing Agents

Release agents, whether incorporated into resins or applied externally, can optimize cycle time and consistency of surface finish while maintaining detail and minimizing post-mold operations. To be effective, a release agent must be cost-effective, have a simple application process with short drying times, and not affect final product properties or post-mold treatments. Qualification costs are high, so suppliers should ensure availability of safe, long-term ingredients to anticipate regulatory changes. Internal mold release agents are dissolved in resins and migrate to surfaces during curing, while external agents require careful application but provide consistent results in high-volume production.

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127 views2 pages

017 - Releasing Agents

Release agents, whether incorporated into resins or applied externally, can optimize cycle time and consistency of surface finish while maintaining detail and minimizing post-mold operations. To be effective, a release agent must be cost-effective, have a simple application process with short drying times, and not affect final product properties or post-mold treatments. Qualification costs are high, so suppliers should ensure availability of safe, long-term ingredients to anticipate regulatory changes. Internal mold release agents are dissolved in resins and migrate to surfaces during curing, while external agents require careful application but provide consistent results in high-volume production.

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Vishnu
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Release Agents

Whether release agents are incorporated into the resin matrix or applied externally
to the mould surface, correct selection can optimise not only cycle time, but also
consistency of surface finish maintaining detail, minimising post mould operation
prior to painting or bonding, even helping with fibre wet out.

To work well a release agent must fit within the scope of the overall process and be
cost effective. Application must be simple with clearly defined steps, drying times
should be short and cure time if any must not delay the process. The product must
not contain any ingredients which will affect the final product properties or post
mould treatments. Finally release must be smooth and clean with no pre-release
prior to cure.

Qualification costs are high and suppliers should ensure their products and
chemical pre-cursors are available long term, anticipating changes in legislation and
using safe ingredients whenever possible.

Internal Mould Release Agent (IMR)


A product dissolved in the resin mix, which is highly soluble in the carrier solvent i.e.
styrene. During cure the product drops out of solution and migrates to the surface
due to volumetric shrinkage, pressure and temperature.

The following criteria are desirable:

 Total solubility in the system 


 Minimal effect on cure 
 Minimal effect on colour 
 No negative and preferably positive influence on physical properties 
 No silicone, non-stearate and no natural waxes which would adversely affect
painting or bonding adhesives 
 A consistent clean release with no build-up or mould fouling caused by
deposits 
 Measurable reduction in cycle time

Using an internal requires careful introduction. Each release agent application is not
an individual event, it is part of a long running sequence. Each moulding relies as
much on previous moulding as it does on the IMR it deposits during its own cycle.
(This is a continuous process in pultrusion).
IMR’s are more commonly associated with mechanised processes, but can assist in
difficult highly detailed hand lay-up mouldings.

One major advantage is consistency and in high volume production, externally


applied release systems rely solely on operator skill, not always meeting the
requirements of the designer or formulating chemist.

External Mould Release Agent


Externals are applied to the mould surface and as such rely on care and attention
during application to ensure successful release.

The following criteria are desirable:

 Easy application with no complex instructions 


 No harmful solvents 
 Good wetting of all surfaces i.e. should not shrink back when applied 
 Surface tension should be correct for gel coat application 
 Quick drying 
 Easy to polish 
 Transfer to moulding should be easily removed, (preferably with water) 
 Predictable multiple release

Wax release agents are used typically in low volume manufacturing where products
are individual and cycle times are not critical, semi-permanents are used in high
volume applications.

The semi-permanent system is ideal for all contact mouldings, large or small, giving
exceptional surface finish with low maintenance, but without critical application
procedures. In high production processes such as RTM, the use of semi-permanent
systems maximises cycle times because of their consistent release properties.

Published courtesy of Keith Godber, Chemical Release Company

http://www.releaseagents.co.uk

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